Selective signaling device.



0. T. LADEMAN.

SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.30.1912.

Patented Dec. 15. 1914.

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O. T. LADEMAN.

SELEGTIVB SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.30.1912.

1,1 21,562. Patented Dec.15,1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE. OTTO T. LADEMAN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,ASSIGNOR TO MORSE CODE SIGNAL COMPANY, OFMILWAUKE'E, WISCONSIN."

SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OTTO T. LADEMAN, a

waukee, in the county of Milwaukee. and State'of Wisconsin, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvementin Selective SignalingSystems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompany- I ing drawings,forming a part of this specification.

Mv invention-relates to signaling systems and has for its obj ecttheprovision of an im proved selective signaling system of the step-bystepvariety and also novel features in connection with answer-backarrangefments in connection with signalingsystems of this character. a

My invention is of particular utility'in connection with railway linesand in the-description herein I will describe a system em-' bo'dyingmyinvention whichis of particular with an. electric railutility inconnection wav line.

Of course, the specific description in this application of one form ofcarryingout the invention is naturally not intended to limit theinvention, but this specific description is illustrative in character,from which the broad features of the invention may be readily deduced aspointed out in theappended claims. I r y I will describe this particularembodiment of'my inventionin connection with the. ac-

companying drawings illustrating the same applied as aforesaid, inwhich: I

Figure 1 is a side view of-animproved selector constructed in accordancewith my invention, the casing whereof is shown in section; Fig. 2 is apartial sectional view on line a-a of Fig. 1; Figs. 3, 4, 5 .and 6 areviews illustrating the various operative po sitions of a movable elementof the device, and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic circuit arrangementshowing'the inclusion of the selector in a signaling system.

I will describe fii'stly a specific embodiment of a selector which mayoperate in accordance with my invention by particular reference to Figs.1 to 6 inclusive. This selector operates in general alongthe lines setforth in' the patent to W. S. Burnett, No.

An armature 6 oscillatingly mounted upon Specification of LettersPatent. Patented Dec. 15, 1914; Application filed April 30; 1912. SerialNo. 694,214.

970,1 0, issued'Sept. 13, 1910. Ithus have two coils 1, 1 forming asingle winding which magnetize two separate and distinct magneticcircuits. cuit consists of the essential C shaped core 2 whose legs passinteriorly of the coils 1, 1 and terminate in pole pieces 3, 3, and thusform one magnetic'circuitrthe other magnetic circuit comprises the heelpiece 4: and the cores 5, 5 which project through the coils pivots 7, 7is associated with the cores 5, 5 and'tliis armature is polarized by thepermanent magnet '8 so that this armature doccupies either one or theother of its two al- The first magnetic cir-- ternative positions,depending upon the polarity' of the current last impressed on the coils1,1. An alternating current through the coils l, 1, will of courseoscillate the armature 6-with a frequencyequal-to the frequency of theimpressed alternating current provided naturally the frequency is not"too high to permit the said armature 6 to follow properly. a

A second armature 8 is mounted in close proximity to the'pole pieces 3,3 and is-secured to a swinging element 9 pivoted at 10, which swingingelement by reason of its overweight 11 tends normally to occupythelikewisesuflicient to close contact between springs letand 15 throughthe agency of the insulating button 16 preferably'fastened to the spring15' and abutting against this swinging element 9. This swinging element9 has its central vertically arranged portion preferably plate shapedand the armature 8 forms a segmental piece at right angles to thisplateshapedportion 9 so that this armature 8 is substantially parallelto the pole pieces 3, 3.

The magnetic elements above referred to are allv suitably mounted upon asupporting plate 17 to which a hood 18 may be fastened so as to entirelyinclose the working .por

tain'operating parts as will presently 'ap 7 l pear. An opening 22 inthis framework per-' mits the pin 20 to pro ect therethrough freely. I

--for this purpose. This shaft likewise The rotatable plate 13 isprovidedwith a notch 23, which notch is angularly displaced in. thedifferent, selectors corresponding to different substations, totherebycontrol the,

selective feature of the device. This plate 13 is pivotally mountedbetween the framework 21 and an upright2 l secured to the framework 21,a shaft 25 being provided carries a toothed wheel 26 and a .prongedplate27, which plate27, plate 13 and wheel 26 are securely fastened tothe shaft 25. The plate 27 has three projecting elements,

. one an arm 28 which is used to-come into" contact with the pin 20 whenthe devices are being restored to their normal position; an arm 29adapted to contact with a limit guard or jarm 3O fastenedto, thearmature 6 and movabletherewith so as to prevent further operativerotation of thewheel 26- by the armature 6 when the arm 28 engagesthepin 20; and an l. shaped arm 31 pro ect.

ing toward the periphery of the platel3 and. then downwardly therefromso j as -to be engaged by .the projection 12 after the entire signalingand restoring operation has ceased, sons to more the shaft25 a space ofone-half cycle into its initial starting position to thereby carry thearm 28 out of the jection of the arm 31 is engaged by the projection 12of the movable element 9 that the movable elements carried by the shaft25. are rotated a short space to bring them to g g then additionalimpulses are sent to move their starting position. v

ln order to set the devicean escapement lever is provided 'WlllCll issecured to the shaft 33 pivotally mounted betweenthe standard 24 and theframework 21. This lever 32 has the arms 3- 3- whereby an oscillation ofthis arm causes a rotation of the shaft 25 by reason of the engagementof the prongs of the arms 3% with the toothed equivalent and each cycleof current, that is, one positive and one negative impulse move therotatable elements one step. Thus for each cycle there is one engagementbetween the wheel 26 and each one of the prongs car- 7 .ried by the arms34.; Naturally if but a half cycle is sent of such polarity to reversethe position of the armature 6, then the movable,

elements rotate but one-half step. This oscillating arm 32 is oscillatedby means of I a pin 36 carried by the arm 30. Thus whenever the armature6 oscillates, the escape- 'ment arm 32is oscillated and thereby'theselective elements of the device are rotated therein. the positionshown-in- Fig/ 3, whichiissthe starting position, assuming also vthat.the

armature 6 is-in the positionshown in Figsuch a position that twocomplete cycles must be sent in order for this particular device torespond. Assumethen that two complete, cycles, that is, two positive andtwo negative impulses are receivedbythe armature, then each arm oftheescapement mechanism will have engaged the. wheel26 twice and it willhave moved four half steps. The initial, impulse likewise rotates "theswinging element 9 in a contra-clockwise. die

rection so that'its projection 12 isv away.-

Now assume'that the device is in. I

from the periphery of the wheel 13 and it 3 remains in this positionduring the sending of the lmpulses. After the impulses have finallyceased, this arm 9 swings around by. reason of the weight 11 and theprojection 12 enters the notch 23 in 'whichposition, circuit isclosedbetween springs l-l and 15.

Of course, only those devices respond I in which the notchesdirectlyregister with the projection 12 as shown in Fig. 5, because inthe other devices the projection merelyjfalls against the periphery ofthe wheel 13 andin such a position the contact between the springs 14and 15 is not closed. -Assuming I now that the station has been calledandit is desired to restorethe devicesto normal,

the rotatable element progressively around so as to complete-itsrotation back to its starting point. ;The armature 6 is therebyoscillated by additional impulses, the first impulse having withdrawnthe projection 12 from the'notch23and .these impulses are i sent in anumber exceeding the number re quired to complete the rotationbackto,the

the movable elements move only to the Y .sition indlcated 1n F1g. 4,irrespective of the excessive number of cycles received. In th1s- 1position illustrated in Fig. 4the arm 30 likewise is opposite the arm 29and even though excessive cycles are received the escapement element 32no longer engages the teeth of the wheel 26 as the armature 6 isprevented from moving its required. operative distance by the engagementof its arm "mitting the swinging element 9 to assume the position shownin Fig. 2. While this element 9 is assuming this position, itsprojection12 engages the cam shaped portion which may be likened to a'countingpole changer whereby to send the necessarycycles to-call any desiredstation.v Such acounting device, of course, must havea number of givensetting positions depending upon the number of stations .on the line.Now in order to increase the capacity ofthe system.

without increasing the size of call boxes by increasing then settingpositions, I provide a reversing element *at the sending station so asto reverse the polarity of the current nnpressed whlch practicallyamounts to the same thing as ellminating the first impulse,

and in this manner the shaft 25 will be stopped a half cycle earlierthan would be the case if the ordinary number of cycles were sentwithout the reversing" device.

This may be more readily understoodby assuming that the device shown inFig. 1 is designed to respond after two complete cycles have been sent,which means two positive and two negative impulses. Assuming that thelast impulse is always a negative impulse which leaves the armature 6inthe. position shown In F1g. 1, then the first -1rn-= pulse naturallyshould always be a positive impulse. Thus four impulses, two positiveand two negative, beginning with a positive tive, positive, negative,these four impulses are sent negative, positive, negative, pos1-- tive,then it will be readily apparent that the first negative impulse willnot move the armature 6 and the three succeeding impulses will move theshaft .25 through a space of one and one-half cycles. The same reasonlngapplies with any number. For 1nnanner I may increase the capacity acertain numstance, if we have a station that would re spond to sixcycles and we used the reversing switch, then the particular elements ofthe substation would stop at five and onehalf cycles. In this case, ofcourse, the notches 23 must be made narrower than shown in the figuresso that each notch has a width corresponding only to a half cyclemovement of the shaft 25 as will be readily apparent, and ofsubstantially the width of the projection 12.

It will thus be seen how in a very simple of the device underdiscussion. r Referring now particularly to Fig. 7, wherein I show mydevice as of use, I have a central station A and a substation B,although other substations are intended to be added to the numberrequired. I have indicated the selector described in Figs. 1130 6inclusive at thesubstation B by the coil 1, the rotating plate 13, andthe movable element 9, thismovable element closing circuit through thesprings 14 and 15. The device is connected in bridge of the line wires37 and 38, which linewires unite the stations together. An adjustableresistance 4O is provided serially with the device to adjust for. lineconditions. A lightning arrester 41 is shown as likewise fuses 42, 42.At the central station I have a pole changing device as explained morein detail in my co-pend-.

ing application Serial No- 694,215, filed April 30, 1912, in which ashaft 43 carries two conducting rings 44 and 45 respectively associatedwith commutator segments 46 I and 47 i Brushes 48 and 49 are associatedwith the commutator segments and brushes 50 and 51 are respectivelyassociated with the rings 44 and 45. The shaft 43 is suitably rotated totransmit cycles (each cycle meaning a positive impulse and a negativeimpulse) and a suitable counting mechanism to count the number of cyclesis utilized to operate the shaft 43in accordance with the disclosuremade in my co-pending application Serial No. 690,727, filed April 15,1912. A battery 52 furnishes the current. i A condenser 53 isbridgedacross the line wires to take the discharge due to sparking and anon-inductive resistance 54 is bridged across the condenser so that thecondenser discharge will not operate the selectors. The

shaft 43 may then be operated to call any desired station. In order tooperate the device so that it may occupy one-half cycle positions I usea reversing key 55 which merely reverses the polarity of the batterycurrent from the battery 52 as supplied to the brushes'50 and 51. Iutilize a key56 which when operated closes'the battery circuit to thepole changer and also closes the battery circuit from the pole changerto the line. I show a second key 57 which is associated with anoperators telephone set 58 and which connects-this operators telephone.

set in bridge ofthe line for talking purposes as will be readilyapparent. l likewise pro thereupon establish a circuit from spring 15,,

through conductor 66, relay 6.7,; conductor 68, visual signal 69 for themotorman, resistance 70, hand switch 71, trolley wire. 72, generator-73, ground 74, ground 75, con- 7 'ductor 76, spring 7?,spring78,conductor erated by means of the spring 85 in a con- 7 9, spring 1a,contact element v80 to spring 15. The lamp 69 is thus lighted somewherealong the right of way to call a trainman and at thesame time thearmature 81 of the magnet 67 is attracted to operate a catch82 tothereby release an answer-back mechanism and at-the same time to close.circuit.

; through springs 83 and 84:. Closing the cir+ cuit-through thesprings83 and 84Lplaces a closed circuit across the springs. 14: and

so that the substation callingdevice may be restored without breakingthe continuity of the circuit through the relay 67 and signal 69." Theanswer-back device is spring opitra-clockwise direction sothat the arm86 engages, a stop 87, during which motion a segmental wheel 88 isoperated toperiodically close circuit between springs 89 and .90,

thereby periodically grounding the line wire 37 to operate the relay inresponse to said groundings. rives at the signal 69 heinserts a plug 91into the jack .92 and may then converse by means of the telephone set 93with the train despatchers telephone apparatus 58.

It may be said, of course, that the operations of the answer-back deviceare registered upon the register to indicate that p the propersubstation instrument has been selectively operated. The trainman thenoperat'esthe handle'86 in a clockwise direction from the position it hasoccupied against the stop 87 into the position it occupies in theillustration, at which time this arm has opened circuit through thesprings 7 7 and 7 8, thereby breaking circuit through the relay 67 topermit the restoration of all parts to normal and again holding theanswer-back device by means of the detent 82;

This restoration of the answer-back device winds it up so as to be readyfor another opa station is selected, contact is As soon as the trainmanaroration. Av switching key comprising. the springs 94: andl95 at eachsubstation may be used to ground the line conductor v 37 to; therebymanipulate the registering device; 65 so that thetrainman may signal thecen-l traloflice should communication be desired,

While I have herein'showni and particularly described one vform ofcarrying out'my invention, Ido not meanto limit 'myselfit'o suchspecific description and illustration, 'buta. r w g Having thusdescribed oneembodiment of; j

my invention, what 'I claim as newand'desiretosecure byLetters Patentis:

1., A signaling system having a central station and'substations allunited by the same circuit, and including a, step-by-step signalreceivingdevice at. each substatio'ra; means at theicentral stationoperable'over' said circuit to select for operativeioperation anysubstation, I an answer-back device at each substation adapted to sendindications over said c1rcu1t,'a signal at each substation,

meansfor normally preventinglsaid answerbackdevice from operating, meanswhereby the answer-back device is released whenever its correspondingsignal is operated, means" for restoringisaid answer-back device andeffacing said signal, a signal receiving-dew vice at the central stationadapted to receive saidanswer-back indications, and means at eachsubstation operable over saidcircuit to actuate said centralstationsignal receiving 7 device independently "of said answer backdevice.- 7 v i,

2. A signaling system" having a centralstation and substations allunited by the same circuit, and includingstep-by-step signal receivingdevice at each substation,

means atthe'central station. operable over said circuit to select foroperative operation any substation, an answer-back device Iateachsubstation adapted to send indications over said circuit, a signalat each substation, .means for normally preventing said answerbackdevice from operating, means whereby the answer-back device is releasedwhenever its corresponding signal is operated, means for restoring saidanswer-back device and effacing said signal, and a signalreceivingdevice at the central station adapted. tore- 1 ceive said answer-backindications, said an-' swer-back releasing means having lmeans under ltscontrol to actuate said signal.

3. A signaling system having a central station and substations allunited by'the same circuit, and including a step-by-step signalreceiving device at each substation, means at the central stationoperable over said circuit to select for operative operation anysubstation, an answer-back device at each substationadapted to sendindications over said circuit, a signal at each substation,

means for normally preventing said answer back device from operating arelay whereby the answer-back device is released whenever itscorresponding signal is operated, means for restoring said answer-backdevice and efiacing said signal, a signal receiving device at thecentral station adapted to receive said answer-back indications, andmeans whereby said relay when'actuated maintains its actuated position,said restoring means controlling the restoration of said relay.

4. A signaling system having acentral station and substations all unitedby the same circuit, and including a step-by-step signal receivingdevice at each substation, means at the central stationoperable oversaid circuit to select for operative operation any substation,ananswer-back device at each substation adapted to send indications oversaid circuit, a signal at each substation, means for normally preventingsaid answer-back device from operating a relay whereby the answenbackdevice is released whenever its correspondingsignal is operated, meansfor restoring said answer-back device and efi'acing said signal, asignal receiving device at the central station adapted to receive saidanswer-backindications, and means whereby said relay when actuatedmaintains its actuated position, said restoring means controlling therestoration of said relay, said central station selecting de viceincluding a pole changer.

5. A signaling system having a central station and substations allunited by the same circuit, and including a step-by-step signalreceivingdevice at each substation, means at the central stationoperable over said circuit to select for operative operation anysubstation, an answer-back device at each substation adapted to sendindications over said circuit, a signal at each substation, means fornormally preventing said answer-back device from operating means wherebythe answer-back device is released whenever its corresponding signal isoperated, means for restoring said answer-back device and efiacing saidsignal, and a signal receiving device at the central station adapted toreceive said answer-back indications, said answer-back device havingmeans under its control to actuate said signal receiving device,'saidcentral station selecting de vice including a pole changer, a condenserbridged across said circuit, and a non-inductive resistance bridgedacross said circuit.

6. A signaling system having a central station and substations allunited by the same circuit, and including a step-by-step signalreceiving device at each substation, means at the central stationoperable over said circuit to select for operative operation anysubstation, an answer-back device at each substation adapted to sendindications over said circuit, a signal at each substation, means fornormally preventing said answer-back device from operating a relaywhereby the answer-back device is released whenever its correspondingsignal is operated, means for restoring said answer-back device andeiiacing said signal, a signal receiving device at the central stationadapted to receive said answer-back indications,

and means whereby said relay when actuated maintains its actuatedposition, said restoring means controlling the restoration of saidrelay, said central station selecting device including a pole changer, acondenser bridged across saidcircuit and a non-inductive resistancebridged across said circuit.

the, central station to reverse the polarity of the cycles so that saidsubstation signal receiving device can also occupy positionscorrespondingto one-half cycles.

8. A signaling system having a central station and substations unitedbya circuit, a step-by-step signal receiving device at each substationhaving escapement operating means adapted to occupy two restingpositions per'impressed cycle of alternating current, one of saidpositions being its normal starting position, devices at the centralstation for impressing cycles of operating current to operate saidstep-by-step device into different operative positions correspondingrespectively to the impressed cycles, and a switching device at thecentral station to reverse the polarity of the cycles whereby saidescapement means and said substation signal receiving devices occupyresting positions corresponding to half cycles.

9. A signaling system having a central station and substations united bya circuit, a step-by-step signal receiving device at each substationhaving escapement operating means, devices at the central station forimpressing cycles of operating current to operate said stepby-step'device into difierent operating positions corresponding respectively tothe impressed cycles, a polarized operating armature at each substationto control the operation ofsaid escapement occupying a normal restingposition from which it is responsive to the polarity of current formingthe first'impulse of each cycle,

and a switching device at the central station to reverse the polarity ofthe impressed In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe cycles wherebythe substation polarized my name this 5th day of April, A. D., 1912.armature remains unresponsive to the first OTTO T. LADEMAN. impulse sothat the substation step-byste'p Witnesses: 1

5 device will occupy positions intermediate to MAX W. ZABEL the cyclepositions. HAZEL JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, .byaddressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, D. C. v

